Chapter 8 - The King Will Die

Azriel sensed Zavian was becoming annoyed, so he did not press further. The devil was a tense topic for Zavian. The throes of the war had still not been erased from his memory, and may never be, and he was sure Zavian did not want another war.

Zavian said nothing in reply. He just dropped the bow and arrow he was about to shoot.

''Let's practice some other time Azriel, '' He said and walked away.

The next day, the witches returned to see the king, but Eloise was not with them this time. There was another witch with them, who looked in her thirties, with long red hair.

''Greetings, my King. '' the three witches bowed, as the first witch greeted.

''Where is Eloise?'' Zavian asked;

''My king, she is weak from the spells and rituals which used a lot of her aura. She said I should relay the message.''

''And who are you? '' Zavian asked.

''Her daughter, Elisa. '' Elisa said and bowed again;

Zavian was quiet for a second, then he asked; ''So what is it you found? ''

''Your majesty; '' Elisa called; ''My mother said she told you of a vision 20 years ago.''

Zavian, who had refused to think about that woman's words for years, stilled on his throne. In that year, he was having terrible nightmares, so he had sent for her, and she had told him that soon he would be forced to make an important decision, and if he made the wrong choice, something terrible would happen.

The prophecy was too vague, and he had probed her to explain more, but that was all she could see. She had said that forces were preventing her from seeing what exactly the decision would be, and when he would make that decision, but when the time came, he would know.

Was the time now?

''Your majesty, she said if you could remember the exact words she had said, then you should know that the time is near.''

''Is that all?''

''No, your majesty. The soul eaters escaped because the portal to the underworld has been weakened, but we used our powers to close it shut.''

''Did you see the number of soul eaters that escaped?''

''No, your majesty, but they are in the kingdom. They have not left yet, so you should end them while they are still close, but I should warn you, they are stronger than they were centuries ago. That is what the underworld does, it strengthens you. ''

Zavian nodded; ''you may leave.''

The witches bowed and turned to leave, then Elisa stopped and turned to the king;

''Your majesty, do you want to know what will happen if you make the wrong decision?''

Zavian thought for a while, then he shook his head; ''No, I do not make hasty decisions. If it is something I thought about and still made, then I should be ready to face the consequences. ''

Elisa smiled and bowed; ''We'll take our leave now, Your Majesty. ''

As they walked out of the castle, one witch asked curiously;

''Elisa, what will happen if the king makes the wrong decision?''

Elisa shook her head as worry etched in her eyes; ''the king will die. ''

…

''Your majesty, 19 bodies were found this morning, littered in the streets of the city. The people are getting alarmed, and there is serious unrest. ''

A soldier reported as he knelt in front of the king; ''what do we do, your Majesty?''

Zavian thought silently and then he commanded;

''Tell Azriel to organize 20 strongest demon-soldiers. We leave the castle by dawn. ''

…

Adeline pushed the maids' room door open without knocking, and they turned to see who it was, when they saw it was her, they murmured; trouble was here.

''The king is leaving the castle with some soldiers and they would be out of the castle for weeks'' Adeline started, her hands crossed behind her. ''And they have to eat and drink for as long as they are outside, so I'll be appointing a few of you to serve them.''

Neera was about to sleep. It was dark already, and Adeline had made her work all day. She was almost fainting from fatigue, so she curled up on the thatched bed, her eyes closed, while she listened with her ears.

Adeline looked around the room, her eyes searching for Neera. She knew what the journey was for. They were going to fight the soul eaters. Now, what was the best way to get rid of a useless maid?

How could she, a lowly slave, think she can gain the king's favor? Even the king's concubines knew their place. The king had never sent for them specially, except at night when he wanted to sleep with any of them, but he had asked for her, even when he had barely known her.

Adeline wanted to get rid of her as quickly as she could before the king would take a liking to her.

''You!''

Neera heard Adeline's voice call in front of her, but she didn't think she was the one. There was no way she would send her, a new maid on this mission…

She was still in denial when Penelope shook her. Neera opened her eyes, only to see Adeline glaring at her.

''Stand up! '' Neera was surprised. Did Freya allow that? Adeline scoffed when she observed Neera's expression.

Just wait until you know why they are leaving the castle. She laughed within her.

Adeline selected four more maids and ordered them to follow her.. Penelope was not selected, so she smiled at Neera as she watched her leave with the rest.